Disclaimer: I don't own "Lizzie McGuire" or any of the characters you recognize from the show.

Ocean Front

Chapter 10: Singin' in the Rain

Lizzie slowed down to a jog as her hotel came back into view. She had just finished her daily run. It felt nice to be alone, breathing in the fresh, cool air. Catching her breath, she rested as the elevator took her back to her room. When the doors opened, she stepped out and made her way through the long hall. Seeing some sort of creature huddled outside her suite, Lizzie walked towards it, looking at it oddly. Still wondering what it was, Lizzie didn't see a maid's cart parked a few doors down. With her eyes on the thing outside her hotel room, Lizzie crashed into the cart, knocking down bottles of shampoo and bars of soap with a clanging sound that the whole floor could have heard.

At the crashing noise, David looked up. There was Lizzie, looking gorgeous even when she was embarrassed.

"Lizzie! Finally! I've been waiting for an hour," he said. He could tell Lizzie was taken aback at seeing him there.

"What are you doing here? How did you find my address?" she demanded, marching over to him. David's heart fell. Those weren't the exact words he wanted to hear from her.

"I wanted to talk to you," David said as she took out her room key and stuck it into the slot.

"Fine," Lizzie said icily, opening the door. David cautiously followed her into the suite. He sat down gingerly on the sofa and waited for Lizzie as she walked to her kitchenette.

"Anything to drink?" she said, not sounding very enthused.

"Um, water's fine," David answered. Lizzie got two bottles of water out of the refrigerator and set them down on the coffee table with a clunk. Then she pushed a button on a tape recorder and set that down too.

"What's that for?" David asked.

"We're continuing the interview, aren't we?" Lizzie replied shortly. "So continue. Please tell me about your movie."

"Lizzie," David pleaded. "Talk to me."

"I am talking to you," she said curtly.

"Lizzie, please, I just-"

"Mr. Gordon, if you don't mind, I'd really like to finish this interview and be done with it," she said, with no change in expression.

"Ok, fine. I worked on Ocean Front with Kate Sanders, a great actress, we worked well as a team," David said, rushing through his words in order to finish quickly. "It's an epic romantic drama, based on a few experiences of my own, and I hope it will be a big hit. Ok, now can we talk?"

"Well, Mr. Gordon, I would like to keep this professional-"

"Stop calling me Mr. Gordon, like I'm some stranger!" David exclaimed, slumping back into the couch cushions.

"Fine, then, what would you prefer? David? Or Gordo?" Lizzie shot back, feeling anger bubbling up inside of her. "Because, I don't know Gordo anymore, ok? I don't know what happened to my Gordo, the one that was always there for me, and always kept his promises."

"That's why I need to talk to you, Lizzie," David said desperately. "Just hear me out, then you can do whatever you want."

"Fine," Lizzie said, crossing her arms and glaring at him. Although he was a little unnerved by her frostiness, David stood up and began to walk back and forth, gathering his thoughts.

"Ok," he said, pausing for a second. "Lizzie, what I did that night was wrong. It was the worst thing I've ever done. And I can make excuses and say that it wasn't my fault. But I'm guilty. I'm guilty of hurting the woman I love more than anything. And I know I'll never forgive myself for that.

"And I know that you'll never forgive me for that either," David said quietly, sitting down next to Lizzie. She was looking down. "And all I can say is, I'm sorry."

Lizzie finally looked up and David was caught off guard by tears in her eyes and how vulnerable she seemed.

"You don't know what it's like to have gone through that and feeling like you've lost the most important person in your life," she said.

"Yes, yes I do," David said, scooting closer to her. "I called you, emailed you, and I never heard from you again. I missed you every single day of my life."

"Gordo," Lizzie whispered. David's heart leapt at the sound of his nickname. Suddenly, they were so close he could see a teardrop on Lizzie's eyelashes.

"I love you, Lizzie," he said softly, leaning in to kiss her gently.

Lizzie's gasp was silenced with the David's lips on her own. She didn't object. They broke apart.

"David, I can't do this," Lizzie said, taking a deep breath and standing up. "It can't work-"

"Why can't it work?" David asked, standing up too.

"I…I think it would be best if you left," Lizzie said shakingly.

"Lizzie," David said quietly, caressing her cheek lightly. Lizzie caught his hand.

"Please go," she begged, feeling a weight on her heart. Lizzie opened the door for him to leave.

"Lizzie-" David repeated, walking out like he was in a trance.

"Goodbye, David," Lizzie said, shutting the door. Once it clicked shut, Lizzie leaned against it and burst into tears- big, heaving sobs that shook her whole body.

David dragged his feet dejectedly along the hallway. To him, the world had fallen apart. He had just lost Lizzie, his best friend, his love.

David made his way through a crowd of people, bowing his head low so nobody would recognize him. He was in no mood for human interaction. But a sign outside the convention room caught his attention.

"National Physics Institute – Annual Convention.

"Keynote speaker: Dr. Ethan Craft."

David did a double take, but dismissed the notion. "Nah, it's a common name." But curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to slip in. Besides, he had always enjoyed physics in the past.

David snuck in quietly and took a seat in the back. Skimming the room quickly, he saw that nobody gave him a second glance.

A tall man wearing a suit walked up to the podium and tapped the microphone he had. The feedback screeched through the speakers, causing everyone in the room to cringe.

"Sorry," the man muttered. David squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look at him, but the man was looking down and fiddling with his notes.

"Um, ok, hello, I'm Dr. Ethan Craft," he said, finally looking up. David's jaw dropped. All thoughts of Lizzie went flying out the window. He barely paid attention to what Ethan was saying. David was too busy still trying to register the fact that Ethan Craft was up there, giving a presentantion about quantum mechanics!

Miranda knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in."

She walked in and set down a cup on Matt's desk.

"Here's your coffee," she said, watching him as he typed on his computer. His brow was furrowed in concentration. "Hanson left a message- he wants the report by Friday, noon, instead of Monday. Brian wanted to make sure you got the memo about the meeting, and gave me these for you to review. Ames Photography decided on the first ad, and someone named Laura Randolph called. She wants you to call her back immediately."

Miranda watched as Matt finished typing something. He placed his elbows on the desk and rested his head in his hands, rubbing his temples. "I have a feeling that I'm going to have to work late tonight," he groaned. "Did everyone already leave?"

"Basically," Miranda nodded.

"You can go ahead and leave. I'm sure you have much more interesting things to do," Matt said, suppressing a yawn.

"Not really," Miranda replied. "Got a hot date with the TV though." Matt laughed and began shuffling through the papers Miranda had just brought him.

"Hey, do you want me to stay and help you?" she asked tentatively.

"Oh, no, go on home-"

"Seriously, you look like you're totally loaded with stuff, and I don't mind working extra."

"Oh, that would be really great," Matt said gratefully. He set her up at his computer to finish the report while he looked over a project.

They worked in peace for a while. The only sounds to be heard were the click click click of the keyboard and the occasional shuffling of papers. The building was eerily still. The silence was broken by a low rumbling sound. Matt looked up and saw Miranda blushing sheepishly. He checked his watch.

"Wow, it's almost eight," he said. "Ok, I think it's time to stop."

"I'm fine," Miranda protested.

"Really, let me take you out to dinner," Matt insisted. "We deserve a break."

"Thanks so much for dinner," Miranda said as they walked down the street, away from the restaurant.

"Hey, no problem. Thank you for staying late and helping me and everything," Matt said. "You're a great addition to the company. You've only been here for a day and things are already looking better!"

They walked in silence for a short while.

"You know what I miss about home?" Miranda suddenly asked. Matt looked at her. Her head was craned and looking up at the sky. "I miss how clearly you can see the stars. Here, everything around you is already so bright."

"Yeah, and beautiful," Matt said nonchalantly, watching her. She didn't get it, and continued to look at the night sky. "And you wouldn't see any stars either," Matt pointed out. "It's looks like it's going to rain soon."

Just as he said it, a drop fell on Miranda's face.

"Aaaah! You jinxed us!" she said, shivering.

"Here," Matt offered, draping his jacket over her. Miranda held it over her head.

They hurried back to Miranda's apartment, the sprinkling of rain becoming steadier. Matt followed Miranda as she went up the steps outside her apartment building to stand under the small overhang over the door.

"Oh, no, I got your jacket all wet," Miranda cried.

"It's ok, Miranda," Matt said, running a hand through his wet hair.

"No, really, let me wash it out for y- aaack!"

Matt instinctively reached out and grabbed Miranda by the waist before she fell on the wet floor.

"Thanks," she murmured. She suddenly noticed that she was still clutching him. Miranda looked up and their eyes locked. They were only inches apart…

"Where have you been?" Kate demanded as soon as David walked in. He jumped.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, hanging up his coat. Kate stood up.

"Well, I called you five times, but your cell phone wasn't on," she said. "I had to do the Access Hollywood Interview, by myself! You were supposed to be there, remember? And I had to make excuses for you, which was kinda hard, since I had no idea what your excuse was!"

David groaned and plopped down on the couch.

"Look, Kate, I'm sorry, ok? But I ran into Ethan," he explained. Kate's face changed.

"Ethan? Ethan Craft?" she asked. David looked at her.

"Yes, at the Peninsula Hotel," he said slowly.

"Oh! Ok, well I have to go, see you later." David watched Kate as she stumbled out. He shook his head.

Matt was soaked through and through, but it didn't matter. The kiss still lingered on his lips. Not caring if anyone was watching, he gave a little skip.

"I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain," he sang.

A/N: Thanks sooo much for reading, and please review! Time for me to catch up on my fav stories…

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